PRAIRIE GROVE -- The Lady Tigers volleyball team picked up momentum going into this week's district tournament by winning two matches in the last week of the regular season.
Most of their conference brethren didn't fare as well last week. Only Pea Ridge could match such a win-streak as the only other 4A-1 team to go 2-0 in the final tune-up before postseason. Gentry, which Prairie Grove defeated, 26-24, 25-12, 25-11, on Thursday enters the tourney on a 10-game losing streak. The Lady Pioneers gave Prairie Grove all that could be handled in extending the first set, but didn't fare nearly as well in the next two games with the Lady Tigers pulling out the 3-0 sweep.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, Prairie Grove pulled out a thrilling, come-from-behind, 3-1, win over Gravette, which had previously defeated the Lady Tigers. Prairie Grove played well, but dropped the first set, 25-23, then won three straight in a hotly-contested match resembling tournament-like atmosphere by scores of 25-20, 25-22, and 25-23.
"We needed that victory, our girls have battled all year long, come very close all-year long to very good teams and we had a tough tournament in Neosho, Mo., this past weekend and we were feeling sorry for ourselves," said Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart. "We started talking about a word that's probably over-used. We started talking about resiliency. Anybody can give up, anybody can be on fire and love volleyball when things are going great, but when you are on a losing streak and you're so close, but you keep losing and your heart hurts, then you feel bad for your kids. That's the time that we're talking about fighting. Anybody can give up, but our kids fought and they believed in themselves tonight and we pulled it out."
Gravette trailed 18-14 in the first set before roaring back to win with an 11-4 finish. Three kills by junior Olivia Perry drew the Lady Lions even at 20-20 with one coming off well-executed passes by Allie Callahan (dig), and Haley Dawson (set). Prairie Grove tied the game at 22-22 on Emily Traylor's kill, but Makayla Smith answered for Gravette. The Lady Lions won 25-23 on a palming violation.
"Looking at our errors on our side definitely lifted their game for sure," said Gravette coach Brandi Varner. "We knew Prairie Grove was going to be tough. We were just lax. We didn't expect what they gave us."
Game two featured a battle with the teams counter-punching. Senior Emma Maraver gave Prairie Grove its first lead, at 11-10, with an ace, the second Lady Tiger point of a 9-1 run to earn separation on the scoreboard. Maraver added a second ace and Sophia Nunziato served an ace pushing the Lady Tiger lead to 18-11. Prairie Grove arrived at game-point on Abigail Milmon's ace and won 25-20 when Gravette hit the ball into the net.
The Lady Lions suffered 17 hitting errors, which coupled with service errors at critical moments, contributed to Prairie Grove winning three consecutive games.
"That's probably what killed us the most, that and serving," Varner said.
Gravette jumped out to a 7-1 lead in game three and still led 13-10 after an early Prairie Grove 9-6 run. This time the Lady Tigers got on a roll and concluded the set with a 15-9 run.
The third game was also decided by a whistle with Gravette called for a violation after Prairie Grove reached game-point on Traylor's kill from the outside hitter position. The Lady Tigers won 25-22 to take a two games to one lead and put Gravette on the brink of elimination.
The fourth set was tied four times early. Then Gravette broke away from a 7-7 tie on the strength of three straight ace serves by sophomore Shelbye Varner, who later surprised Prairie Grove by playing the ball back over on the first hit for an 11-8 Lady Lion advantage. Sydney Stearman's ace highlighted a 6-3 Prairie Grove run. Then Gravette fought off two Prairie Grove hits and won a hard-fought point on Alexis Gerner's kill to take a 15-14 lead.
Both teams played a number of quick hits and Lexi Light's back-row kill for Prairie Grove evened the score at 19-all. Gravette assumed a 23-19 lead from a pair of Prairie Grove miscues and Alexia Heaton's ace following Perry's block-kill. The Lady Tigers dug out a serve coming off the net and Nunzantio pounded the first of four straight kills to begin a 6-0 Prairie Grove run to end the match.
Kelsey Pickett subbed in as the run got underway and rotated to serve. She delivered an ace to bring Prairie Grove to match-point at 24-23 and the Lady Tigers won when Gravette hit long.
Prairie Grove played Berryville in the first-round of the District 4A-1 volleyball tournament on Monday at Pea Ridge.
Sports on 10/17/2018